Championship: Who got promoted, relegated and who made the play-offs?
Relive all the action from a nail-biting final day
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It’s the final day of the Championship season and before the chaos of the play-offs takes hold next week, there is the small matter of deciding who goes up to the Premier League… and who drops down to League One.
Cardiff City know a win at home to Reading will see them return to the Premier League for the first time since 2014, but their opponents are not totally safe, sitting only two points above the drop zone in 19th.
Fulham will be waiting in the wings knowing they must win to capitalise on any slip-ups, although they are also playing a relegation-threatened side in Birmingham City.
At the other end of the table, there are five teams fighting to avoid the two final relegation places as Burton Albion and Barnsley are away to play-off chasing Preston North End and Derby County respectively. The final team involved are Bolton Wanderers, who are at home to Nottingham Forest.
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It was disappointment in the end for the travelling Brewers. They went down 2-1 at Preston
Cardiff City secure promotion to the Premier League as Fulham fall at Birmingham City
Barnsley have sacked their manager Jose Morais following their 4-1 defeat by Derby, the club have confirmed on their website. Morais had a relegation release clause in his contract.
A statement reads: "Following defeat at Derby County and results elsewhere, Barnsley Football Club have been relegated to Sky Bet League One for the 2018/19 season.
"The Club acknowledges the disappointment of relegation and shares the view of supporters that this has been a disappointing season of results. The aim is now to have a proactive summer both on and off the pitch, in order to gain promotion back to the Sky Bet Championship.
"Following a relegation clause within their contracts, the employment of José Morais, Dimas Teixeira and Joao Cunhã has been terminated with immediate effect."
Who won promotion? Who suffered relegation? Who plays who in the play-offs?
The 2017-2018 Championship ended in breathless fashion this afternoon, with six matches having a bearing at both ends of the table. So what happened? Here is the information you need to know...
Promoted: Wolves, Cardiff
Neil Warnock achieved his eighth career promotion despite Cardiff stumbling at the last. Warnock becomes the all-time record holder for most promotions in the Football League, but his side needed Fulham to slip-up after they drew with relegation embattled Reading. Despite peppering the visitor's goal, the Cardiff CityStadium erupted at full-time as a 0-0 draw proved to be enough to send the Bluebirds back to the Premier League for the first time since 2014. Fulham, meanwhile, saw their 23 match unbeaten run ended by a Birmingham City hell-bent on securing their second-tier status. Goals from Jutkiewicz and Dean in the first half, and a late third from Adams after Cairney had restored hope were enough end Fulham's automatic hopes, even though Cardiff had left the door open.
Play-offs: Fulham, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, Derby
Fulham will face Derby County in the play-offs as the Rams firmed up the final top-six spot that was up for grabs at the start of play. County put Barnsley to the sword in a 4-1 win, meaning that Preston's 2-1 win over Burton was immaterial. Middlesbrough also drew with Ipswich, which meant they prevented Derby from leapfrogging them into fifth. Here are the fixtures and dates:
May 11th: Derby vs Fulham
May 12th: Boro vs Villa
May 14th: Fulham vs Derby
May 15th: Villa vs Boro
Relegation: Barnsley, Burton, Sunderland
What drama. During the last ten minutes, Barnsley and Burton for a brief moment were safe. Burton had pulled level at Preston, while Barnsley were benefiting from Burton and Bolton's struggles. Then Bolton produced a moment to savour. Two goals in two minutes at the death, from David Wheater and Aaron Wilbraham, ensured they turned around a 2-1 deficit to lead Nottingham Forest 3-2. Reading and Birmingham City never looked in any danger, although Reading faced a few scary moments when Burton pressed for a lead at ten-man Preston. Ultimately, Barnsley's defeat at Derby and Burton's at Preston, proved decisive.
One other result of note: relegated Sunderland smashed Wolves 3-0, in a bizarre end of season result. Their season's couldn't have been more contrasting...
That concludes are coverage on a brilliant afternoon of football. Thank you for joining me, and until next time, goodbye!
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